How to prepare for hsk 3

[simpleasy]

Hi everyone,

 

I assume this question might have been asked several times already, so I'm a little bit hesitant to ask it here. 

 

My university organizes an official HSK test every year, which will take place in March. Since I still have other exams to do, I will only be able to spend much time on my HSK preparation as soon as February 1. Which gives me roughly one month and a half to prepare.

 

How can I best spend this time? 

-keep studying NPCR 2, maybe a little bit harder than usual? ( also, Im studying chapter 18 now, is that actually enough for HSK 3? )

-Start going through the vocabulary lists, making sure I know all the words perfectly?

-Buy a HSK-specific book and go through that?

-...?

 

While searching for the answer to my question, I have found many places trying to sell me books and online programs. However I'm not sure whether that's really necessary...

I hope someone can give me some advice. It would be a shame if I failed just because I didn't organize my time well.. Thank you in advance!

 

 

 

 

[耳耳语语]

The 3rd level doesn't involve much grammar or writing.

 

If you're already at a beginner/intermediate level, you have just to :

- Drill the vocabulary (600 words). For me, the best method in flashcards appears to be : hear the audio and guess the caracters and meaning.

- Do some mock tests in real-time

http://www.chinaeducenter.com/en/hsk/hsklevel3.php

http://www.chinesetest.cn/gonewcontent.do?id=6428777

- Success

[Ruben von Zwack]

At level 3, there are a few conjunctions that can alter the meaning of a sentence (like finally, additionally, even though, etc.), so I suggest learn those timely so they have time to sink in.

 

The reading part is quite long and without pinyin, so do practice reading Chinese without pinyin, even if you don't need pinyin normally and can read (and write) Chinese characters fine. Just the sheer sight of a few pages plain Chinese text freaked me out so much that I lost some considerable amount of time. Even though I could read all of them, but still - I guess it's a psychological thing.

 

There is a "put these parts of speech into the correct sentence order" exercise, so make sure you know where to put that time phrase!

If you feel insecure about word order and time phrases, better do just 10 or even 5 minutes a day from now on, and don't postpone until February, so that word order will sink in and become natural for you.

 

Good Luck!

[simpleasy]

Thank you for your answers.

I'll take the suggestions and do a few minutes every day already, even though I'm still studying for my engineering exams in the meantime. Mock tests also seem like a good idea, although I will postpone those until I have finished going through all the vocabulary. 

@耳耳语语

Is there any place where I can find flashcards with audio included? I guess I can find audio for most of the words on several places, but copying and pasting everything will take up too much of my time. Even recording it myself would be quite cumbersome.

 

@Ruben von Zwack

I know there are lists available of all the vocabulary that is needed, but you speak of also practicing word order. Is there also a list available of all sentence patterns used? I guess word order shouldn't be a problem, but I have no idea about how advanced the word order questions in HSK 3 actually are...

[Ruben von Zwack]

I wouldn't know of a sentence pattern list, actually I think I could need one myself!

I guess just going through that part in a few different mock tests would be better than nothing.

 

Here's the corrsesponding part of the example test in the outline by Hanban. Call me lazy but I didn't type out the two obvious answers   I believe 75 or a very similar one was in the actual test, plus an even odder sentence like, "You should answer something regarding this problem." or something along those lines. I totally failed there

 

questions:

71。   最     吃     我     西瓜     爱

72。   终于     同意     他    了

73。   哪     复习     一     课     在     他们

74。   菜单     汉语     是     用     这个     写     的

75。   举行     会议     在     这     次     冬天     2010年

 

answers:

71。

72。  他终于同意了。   /    终于他同意了。

73。  他们在复习那一课?

74。

75。  这次会议在2010年冬天举行。   /   在2010年冬天举行这次会议。

 

(source: Chinese Proficiency Test Syllabus Level 3, Hanban, Commercial Press 2010)

[耳耳语语]

Flashcards with audio :

- I use Pleco : http://www.pleco.com/androidpricing.html

 

For free :

- Some of the Anki decks have audio (check column "audio")

https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks/chinese

example : https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/2407634550

- I found this also : http://www.gflashcards.com/albums

[edelweis]

this thread has a link to the HSK3 guidelines and a file with characters+translation of the official sample sentences for HSK3 in the first post:

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/25053-new-hsk3-grammar-sample-sentences/

(edited the link)

[roddy]

On mock tests - they're an excellent idea. I wouldn't wait to do one - it might show you problems you hadn't been aware of, and you'll need time to fix those.

[thedarksideofthemoon]

Get the official HSK book and past exam papers. Then go through these with your teacher - if he/she knows the test that helps, but you can do it without as well. HSK 3 is not very tough, so do not worry about it too much